Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai and Hollywood star Brad Pitt have apparently shown interest in acting in a film based on the life of the Buddha, the head of a Buddhist group has said.

Bhupendra Kumar Modi, the newly elected president of the Mahabodhi Society of India, said the film, which would convey a strong message about Buddhism, would be directed by Shekhar Kapur while motivational guru Deepak Chopra would write the script.

Modi said that Aishwarya would play a powerful role in the film on Buddha.

"She is keen to act in the film," Modi told IANS over telephone from Bodh Gaya, the birthplace of Buddhism.

Modi, an industrialist, said the Buddha's teaching would be the main theme of the film. "Though other films have been made based on Lord Buddha's life and ideas, this film will be different," he said.

He said the film would be produced by his company MCorp Global with financial support from other bodies. Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a staunch Buddhist, is also interested in financing the film, which will cost Rs.500 million (over $10 million).

Modi said the film would be made in English and dubbed into several Indian languages. Pre-production work had already started with Shekhar Kapur working on the film for the past two months.

The shooting would start next year and the film is likely to be released in early 2006. "A part of the film would be shot in India as this is the land of Lord Buddha, but post-production work will be done in Hollywood," he said.